Hampton, New Hampshire is a coastal, salt marsh area. It is a small town geographically comprising about 8,000 acres. When first settled, the total area was larger, but portions were sectioned off to form Kingston, Hampton Falls, Kensington, and Seabrook. The area was first called Winnacunnet, named as the Plantation of Winnacunnet when it was chartered as one of four New Hampshire Townships by the General Court of Massachusetts. The first permanent English settlers arrived in 1638 led by the Reverend Stephen Bachiler an Oxford educated minister. Official incorporation of the town came 22 May 1639. Winnacunnet is allowed to bee a towne, & hath power to choose a cunstable and other officers, & to make orders for the well ordering of their towne, & to send a deputy to the court. (Dow and Dow 1893)
Francis Austin (1594-1642) and Isabella Bland (1614-1700)
Parents of Jemima Austin (1642-)
First Settlers of Hampton
Francis Austin and Isabella Bland are our tenth great-grandparents: RWA → Fred Abbott → Mary Knowles Abbott → William Knowles → Daniel Knowles → Daniel Knowles → John Knowles → James Knowles → John Knowles → John Knowles → Jemima Austin Knowles → Francis Austin and Elizabeth Bland
Francis Austin was born in London about 1594. Isabella Bland was born at Colchester, Essex about 1614 daughter of John and Isabella (Drake) Bland (aka Smith). Francis and Isabella were first settlers in Hampton where Francis received a land grant 30 June 1640. Francis died in July 1642 and the property went to Isabella.
After Francis’s death, Isabella married Thomas Leavitt. She wrote her will 8 February 1700. I Isabel Leavitt town of Hampton in the Province of New Hampshire in New England being of good and perfect memory although weak of body, firstly, I give to my daughter Isabel Towle one cow and one box of linen and my wearing clothes. Secondly, I give to my daughter Jemima Knowles one cow and one sheep and to my granddaughter Sarah Knowles I give one sheep. And to my daughter Kezia Tucker I give 12 shillings in good, merchantable pay. Thirdly, my pewter and brass I give to my three daughters above named to be equally divided amongst them. Fourthly, I give to my son John Leavitt my warming pan and all my moveables whatsoever.
John Knowles (1632-1705) and Jemima Austin (1642-)
Parents of John Knowles (1662-1733)
John Knowles was likely born in England, but his parentage is unknown. He married Jemima Austin at Hampton on 10 July 1660. Jemima was born at Hampton 24 January 1642 daughter of Francis and Isabella (Bland) Austin. The Knowles homestead was purchased in 1666 and stayed in the Knowles family for at least the next eight generations. The home stood until 1994 when it was destroyed by fire. John and Jemima were parents of seven children. John Knowles was blind during the last ten years of his life, although there is a story that he suddenly regained his sight two years before he died.
(Dow and Dow 1893)
Jasper Blake (1614-1673) and Deborah Everard (1628-1678)
Parents of Dorothy Blake (1668-1737)
Jasper Blake was born at Wimbotsham, Norfolk about 1614 son of Jasper and Frances (Godbould) Blake. Deborah Everard was born at Wolverstone, Suffolk, 2 June 1628 daughter of Richard and Sarah (Dalton) Everard. Deborah came with her parents to Dedham about 1646. It is not clear when Jasper Blake arrived, but Jasper and Deborah were married and in Hampton, New Hampshire by 1649. Jasper was a mariner, but also owned property in Hampton in excess of 100 acres for the homestead farm. The land bequests to his sons in his will total 194 acres. Jasper and Deborah were parents of eleven children including our ancestor Dorothy Blake (1668-1737) who married Nathaniel Locke (1661-1734) (Dow and Dow 1893).
Nathaniel Locke (1661-1734) and Dorothy Blake (1668-1737)
Parents of Tryphena Locke (1692-)
Nathaniel Locke was born at Rye, New Hampshire in 1661 son of John and Elizabeth (Berry) Locke. Dorothy Blake was born at Hampton on 17 September 1668 daughter of Jasper and Deborah (Everard) Blake. There is a story they had nineteen children, but evidence was found for a mere sixteen children.
Reference
Dow, Joseph, and Lucy Ellen Dow. 1893. History of the Town of Hampton, New Hampshire, from its Settlement in 1638 to the Autumn of 1892. Salem, MA: L. E. Dow.